Submaeike vessel



3 Sheetsshe'et 1.

(No Model.)

J..H..L.TU0K; SUBMARI'NE VESSEL.

Patented Apr. 29,Y 1884 f1 i! 11115, ....xmmwlfl. ,I l, r

II fluff (No Model.)r 3' sheets-sheet 2.

J. H.Lr. TUCK.

, SUBMARINB VESSEL. v

No. 297,647. Patented Apr.-29, 1884.

N. PETERS. Hmllillwgnpher. washington n c lstrength and lightness.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH H. L. TUCK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASCSIGNOR TO THE SUBMRINE MONITOIt COMPANY, OF

NEW Yoan, n. Y;

SUBMARINEVSSEL. A

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,647, dated April29, 1884:.

Application filed June lG, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JosrAH H. L. TUcK, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have made certain new and useful Improvements in/Submarine Boats; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to submarine boats or vessels for use in harbordefenses and naval operations. v

The following description fully explains the nature of my saidimprovement, and the manner in which I proceed to construct,vv apply,use, and operate the same, the accompanying drawings being referred toby figures and letters of referencethat is to say: v

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through my submarine boat,and it represents the general arrangement of machinery for propelling,steering, and handling the boat, and apparatus for supplying andmaintaining Within the boat a suitable atmosphere for the occupants.Fig. 2 is a top view Fig. 3 a cross-section at the line x, Fig. 1.

A represents a cigar-shapehull orbody, constructed, preferably, of metalto giverequisite B is a principal compartment, tocontain a motor andother necessary apparatus, and affording alsoroom for a sufficientnumber of persons to control and manage the boat and perform therequired operations.

C is an electric motor.

D EE are independent water-ballast compartments, formed under and alongthe bottom of the boat, and having connection with the outside Waterthrough inlet and outlet pipes and with apumping-engine, so that theballast can be increased and diminished as required, to regulate thedepth of submersion.

F is a screw-propeller for giving horizontal movement, and G is asimilar propeller by which vertical motion is effected.

H is the principal rudder, and I is an auxor plan; and' (No model.)

iliary tail-rudder for changing the course in a vertical direction.

.I J arewater-lock compartments,having communication both with theinterior and with the outside of the boat, through manholes or openingscontrolledby doors, covers, or hatches operated alternately. They areconnected with one or more of the ballastcompartments by means of smalloutlet-pipes,

Vwhereby the body of water taken into the lock through the outer openingis drawn off, and the compartment emptied before the lower 6o opening isuncovered. By this means exit and entrance into the boat are effectedduring submersion.

K is a coupling for making connection of the air-tubes air-tube, L,within the boat, and I.'Il is a pumping-engine for supplying air to theoccupant of the water-lock compartment.

R is a pressure-gage, by which the depth of water above the boat duringsubmcrsion is 7o indicated at all times.

W is a hinged mast for ,raising and lowering an air-supply tube orsystemof tubes to hold their inlet-openings above the surface while theboat remains submerged out of sight. 7 5

The hull or body is built up after the manner of constructing metalhulls of vessels. It is pointed. at both ends, and is otherwise shapedaccording to the principles now used in constructing submarine vessels.Along the So bottom are formed separate compartments, D E, andconnection with the outside water is had through a system of pipes g g,controlled by stop-cocks g', by which each compartment is filled with iers, or all maybe iilled simultaneously. From each compartment is asuction-pipe, h, leading to a pumping-engine for reducing or removingthe body of water in any one or in all of the compartments anddischarging it through the 9o side of the vesse This arrangementand theconnection of the inlet and suction pipes is seen in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. These compartments are employed to regulate the generaldistance of the boat beneath the surface 95 during submersion. Bychanging the amount of a submarine armor with a fixed y waterindependently of the oththe boat-is caused to rise to the surface orsink to a greater depth.

Connection of the propeller-shaft F is made by a clutch, F2, and ahand-power engine, F3, is combined with it in such manner that it can bethrown into action to work the propeller when the motor is inoperativeor is not required. A propeller, G, on a vertical shaft, G', is mountedin the center of the body and Io beneath the bottom, and a likeconnection of this propeller-shaft with the motor, and with an auxiliaryhand-power, G2, is employed, so that the propeller can be operated byone or the other at such time as it is required to work it. Theconnection of these shafts with the motive power is made by clutches orcouplings of any suitable character. The propeller G is employed toeifect vertical motion of the boatdirectly up or down.

In the center of the hull are formed two independent water-locks orwater-tight compartments, J J, accessible from the inside of the boatthrough openings sealed by doors or covers J J2, and affording exit fromthe vessel through hatchways or openings covered by hinged hatches. Eachcompartment is suiiiciently large to permit entrance and exit of aperson in submarine armor, and they are i11- dependent of each other asrespects the taking in and letting out of water, so that one or both maybe used, as the occasion requires. An outlet-pipe, m, from the bottom`of each discharges into the water-ballast compartment below through thepump. A single compart ment can also be used with good effect; butin thegeneral constluction throughout the boat I have provided a double set orsystem of parts and apparatus to insure against aceidents and to placethe entire vessel under control in all emergencies; and for such purposeI provide a separate egress and return for a second operator, who isable to assist or to operate jointly with another operator.

Into each water-lock compartment from the interior of the vessel is ledan air-supply pipe, L, having connection with'an air-pump. The end ofthis pipe is carried through the side or wall and terminates in themiddle of the water-lock in a coupling, K, to which the end 5o of theilexible air-tubes L of a divers costume or armor can be connected.TVith the exception of this one attachment, however, the occupant of thewater-lock while in position for operation is independent ofthe ves- 5 5sel, and, having the full use of his limbs, he is free to mana-ge andarrange explosives and other destructive appliances, to operate the mastand tubes for 'taking in air, and to assist in guiding and handling thevessel by a sys- 6o tem of signals to the engineers and steersman.

Each compartment has a small ven p, with a stop-cock, p', to admit airfor discharging the water at the ti the hatches have been closed and ofwater-ballast t-pipe, necessary me when it is reinto the quired to drawoli' the water taken compartment and before the inner opening isuncovered.

The indicator is a U-shaped tube, R, likea barometer-gage,with its openend fixed in an aperture in the top of the vessel to communicate withthe outside water, and its sealed end situated in a convenient placeinside the engine room or compartment and provided with a scale toindicate the pressure of the column of water supported by the mercury inthe bend of the gage.

The rudder I, for changing the vertical course of the vessel, consistsof a iiat hori zontally-placed blade having a center of motion or pivot,z', at the point of connection with the hull,and capable of swinging upand down upon this pivot to take any angle above and below thehorizontal within certain limits. The pivot works in a water-tight box,and a lever, S, connected with it, projects into the engine-room inposition to be under control of a steersman. The movements of this bladeeffect the front end or bow of the boat and produce elevation anddepression to agreater or less degree.

Air for respiration is supplied to the vessel and the atmosphere isrenewed as often as desired without coming to the surface by means ofthe tubes T T, and a device for raising and holding their ends abovewater during the operation while the vessel remains below out of sight.The tubes lead through openings in the top of the vessel, and theirupper ends are attached to a mast or boom, NV, hinged or otherwiseattached to the vesf raised and lowered.

sel, so as to be readil One of these tubesleads off the warm vitiatedair from the interior, and the other tube conducts the cooler air fromabove downward to replace that flowing out, the upward current throughone tube thus inducing a downward effect of which is to relow in theother, the

new the atmosphere. vValves t t are fixed to the ends of the tubes T toexclude the water. \Vhen the ends of the tubes are raised above water,these valves are held open to permit passage ofthe air. For this purposethey are connected with valve-cords leading from inside the tubes intothe boat, so that they can be operated by those within.

In going out of the boat, the operator, inclosed in his armor, removesthe lower door or hatch and steps into the water-lock. opening is thenclosed again compartment B and secured a gainst leakage. The upper hatchis then opened, and the operator is at liberty to manage the apparatuson the outside of the box. In returning, the opeator firsts shutshimself in the lock by closing the hatch, and then the Yater is drawnoff into one of the compartments below by admitting air through the ventand starting the pumps, and, this being accomplished, the operator isreleased by opening the lower door. I employ a torpedo or explosive ofsuch cha-r- Y acter that when released from the boat it will IOO IIO

gradually rise to the surface, and When loosened by the operator beneathavessel it will be held by its oWn buoyancy in place, and in thecase ofan iron-bottomvessel it Will attach itself to the structure. It isconstructed of a cylindrical case, Y, containing a sufficient quantityof explosive compound, and sealed up to render it impervious to Water.Upon the top of the. case is then iixed a float, ysuch as a cylinder ofcork or a case containing a body of air. This is sufcientlyfbuoyant tooat the case. In the top of lthis float I may fix a magnet of suicientpower tohold the case against an iron vessel.

I hereby reserve the right to make separate application for patent forthe torpedo or eX- plosive herein described.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a submarine vessel, a Water-lock having openings to the interiorand exterior of the vessel, and means for closing thesame, incombination with aWater-ballast compartment and connectionsthereto,wl1ereby the lock may be emptied of Water after being used, asset forth.

2. In a' submarine vessel or boat, a Waterlock, J, located in the upperpart of the vessel, and having hatches or coverings opening out upon thetop thereof,Whereby a person in the lock, when it is open, can standupright above the top of the vessel. l

8. In a submarine vessel or boat, a double Water-lock the compartmentsof which are separate from each other, and which can be used separatelyor together, substantially as set forth.

4. In a submarine vessel, a Water-lock lo-V cated at or near its upper'surface, and provided With hatches opening upon said upper surface, butwhich are air and Water-tight when closed, the said lock having anair-vent connected with the air-chamber of the vessel,

l and means for controlling the same, and awa- 45 ter-passage leading tothe Water-ballast chamber or compartment underneath the vessel,`substantially as set forth.

5. In a submarine vessel, the combination, With the Water-lock locatedat or near its uppersurface,'and means for entering, opening, closing,and emptying the same, of an air-supply pipe, asrL, connected totheinterior of the vessel at one end and to the armor of the operator atthe other, as set forth. 4

6. In a submarine boat or vessel, a Waterlock compartment, J, located inthe upper portion of the vessels body, having openings up- Ward upon thetop of the vessel controlled by removable co'vers, doors, or hatches J J2, a Water-discharge pipe, m, connecting it with a Waterreceivingcompartment in the vessel, an air-vent, p, and a coupling, K, forconnecting an air-tube Within the Ycompartment with an air-supplyapparatus in the vessel, as set forth.

7. The combinatiomwith the body o'r vessel being raised and lowered,having their open ends controlled by valves to keep out Water and admitair, and the hinged mast W, to which the tubes are attached, and withwhich they are raised and lowered, substantially as described.

8.` The herein-described submarine vessel, consisting of the hull A,having Water-lock compartments J, Water-ballast compartments D E E,inlet and discharge tubes g g h, propellin g-engine C, propellers F G,and suitable motors for driving them, the indicator R, the airconductingtubes T T on the outside, and means for raising and holding their endsabove the Water, and an air-pump, substantially as described.

JosIAH n. L. Tuck. [n s] Titnesses 7 EDWARD E. OsBoRN, E. PATTEN.

A, of the air-conducting tubes TT, capable of

